BLOSSOM Kicks for kids
FUN AND EDUCATIONAL
Blossom Kicks for Kids
Get ready to blossom in style! The National Cherry Blossom Festival, along with Presenting Sponsor Events DC and Contributing Sponsor CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, invites DCPS students (grades 8-12) from all eight wards to showcase their creativity in the Blossom Kicks for Kids Program.
This exciting program empowers students to tap into their passion for fashion and design by creating unique sneaker designs inspired by the beauty of cherry blossoms and the spirit of international friendship. Don’t miss your chance to step into spring through art and design—one sneaker at a time!
How It Works
The Blossom Kicks for Kids program is a creative journey that takes DCPS students from concept to gallery showcase. Here’s how the process unfolds:
DCPS middle and high school students (grades 8–12) begin by downloading the official sneaker sketch template from the National Cherry Blossom Festival website. This is where their creative vision begins!
Students are encouraged to express what the cherry blossom season means to them through art, fashion, and storytelling directly on the template. Once completed, they upload their custom design through the submission portal.
A panel reviews all submissions and selects standout designs that reflect creativity, originality, and alignment with the annual theme.
Selected students are invited to participate in Shoe Design Day, where they bring their vision to life by painting their designs onto real Air Force 1 sneakers, guided by professional artists.
The finished sneakers are professionally displayed in an art gallery in downtown Washington, DC, celebrating the student’s hard work and creative expression as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
DISTRICT OF BLOSSOMS SHOWCASE
The Blossom Kicks for Kids “District of Blossoms” Showcase, presented by Events DC, highlights the artistic talent of DCPS middle and high school students (grades 8–12) who participated in the 2025 Blossom Kicks for Kids program. Originally focused on elementary students, the program has expanded to engage older students, providing them with the opportunity to design and customize sneakers as a creative expression of their connection to Washington, DC.
Following the program’s Shoe Design Day, students transferred their original concepts onto Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, incorporating the “District of Blossoms” theme, which merges the significance of cherry blossoms with DC’s diverse neighborhoods and culture. The showcase presents their completed designs, offering a visual representation of their artistic interpretations and craftsmanship.
CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS FROM OUR PARTNERS
MORE BLOSSOM KIDS ACTIVITIES
Join National Park Service, DC Arts & Humanities Collaborative, ad Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital in these fun-for-all-ages activities!
Become a Bloomin’ Junior Ranger! Take a virtual walk around the Tidal Basin with a National Park Service ranger and friends. Learn all about the cherry trees, participate in at-home activities and learn how you can help protect the trees from our friends at the National Park Service.
Visit the online gallery featuring artwork from 200+ DC students depicting the theme “Home is Where the Blossoms Are” with an emphasis on Friendship, produced in collaboration with DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative and presented by Chase.
Developed in partnership with Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, this patch program commemorates the gift of the cherry trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.
